chrisi65

Did you fill your 20ft container then with 132 boxes or did you have more stuff, or does everything go into a box. I sound stupid dont i? Just want to know the in's and out's of it all.

Cookie

Our container inventory itemises 132 boxes. Most of which is boxed except large items which are wrapped eg 1 large settee + 2 armchairs, 1 foldaway single bed, 4 bicycles, 1 sideboard, 1 double bed, mattress etc, 5 x chest of drawers, 2 x bedside cabinets - all wrapped. PC boxed as is books (in smaller boxes due to weight). Large framed print/painting individually wrapped and protected. Clothes go into wardrobe boxes and are hung. Some drawers in chest has things left in it. Most was emptied out and boxed. Nearly all items are wrapped before going into boxes.

Did not take: any electricals, dining table set, tv units, bookcase, coffee tables - basically no large pieces except double bed and 3 piece settee suite.

Our guys told us that the container was about the size of our single garage which could easily accommodate a family car and have room at the end for freezer and racking (seems silly stating size of garage but some new build houses in UK can barely hold a small car let alone a family saloon).

Have searched on google and found these 2 websites to give you an idea of size:

http://www.loknstore.co.uk/storagegu...ldStorageGuide

http://www.westfields-storage.co.uk/...ount-num=63357

clarebear07

I have a few questions, not sure if anyone knows the answers but it's worth a try!

I'm moving into an apartment in Montreal, but I want to bring all my books, CD's, DVD's and a few ornamental items etc with me. What is the best way to get them there?
Via a parcel courier, or through an international mover? If I sent them through a mover, I'd also be sending a desk, chest of drawers, and a bookshelf to make it more worthwhile.

How do I have to declare the goods to customs? Do I have to pay a fee?

Cookie

Have also found these measurements on a website:

Dry containers 20' standard steel container spec.
Properties Metric or Non-metric
Door openings, width 2,340 mm or 7'8 1/16"
Door openings, height 2,280 mm or 7'5 3/4"
Internal, length 5,900 mm or 19'4 1/6"
Internal, width 2,352 mm or 7'8 9/16"
Internal, height to load line 2,393 mm or 7'10 3/16"
Weight, gross 30,480 kg or 67,194 lb
Weight, tare 2,230 kg or 4,916 lb
Weight, payload 28,250 kg or 54,782 lb
Volume 33 m3 or 1,170 ft


Dry container 40' standard steel container spec.
Properties Metric or Non-metric
Door openings, width 2,339 mm or 7'8 1/16"
Door openings, height 2,274 mm or 7'5 1/2"
Internal, length 12,035 mm or 39'5 13/16"
Internal, width 2,350 mm or 7'8 1/2"
Internal, height to load line or 2,393 mm 7'8 1/2"
Weight, gross 32,500 kg or 71,648 lb
Weight, tare 3,700 kg or 8,156 lb
Weight, payload 28,800 kg or 63,491 lb
Volume 67 m3 or/ 2,390 ft3

Cookie

I would think that parcel courier would go by weight so this would be expensive especially for sending books. Freight tends to be by volume. You can send a part container. It may take longer to receive your goods as the container would have to be filled by other customers before being shipped.

You could always download your music CDs onto an MP3 player to tide you over til your music collection arrives by boat. Thats what I did and I hand carried my Bose docking bay/speakers. We also hand carried a small selection of DVDs.

I don't think you pay anything at customs as your goods have already had VAT paid on them.

Atlantic Xpat

Whether you have paid VAT is not relevant to importing goods into Canada. However assuming you are a PR, on a WP or a returning resident you can bring your personal effects in without paying duty or HST.

It's worth noting if in the future you buy something from the UK (say from amazon.co.uk) and have it sent to Canada you can be dinged for both UK VAT, any duty and HST! Better to have a friend/family member send over as a gift.

Cookie

Thanks for the info and the tip

OnlineCB

That is brilliant thanks. We are in a similar position - we have a few nice pieces but certainly nothing that we couldn't replace. We were thinking about Air Canada cargo but will have a look at eimskip next week.

When we went to the Emigrate day, one of the sales guys there gave a rough quote of £8k I think it was for a 20ft container. He said quite casually "You will have to take everything you own as you won't get good furniture in Newfoundland!" Cheeky *&&8** needless to say I never even kept his card.

I forgot all about LaZBoy - My OH will think he died and went to heaven. That may be the only way I can entice him to the shops.

Thanks again
PS -Loving that snow plough picture - we could have used that yesterday. A light flurry and our town virtually shut down!

The TWs

We've got our first quotes back for our move from London to Vancouver. I'm posting them as they arrive, so here's what we've got so far - with 2 more coming round on Monday.

Robinsons:
20ft container, packing and door to door transit = £4,550

40ft container, packing and door to door transit - £5,475

Bishops:
40ft container, packing and door to door transit = £6,178

They also think we have as much as 300sq/ft more than Robinsons.

White & Company
40ft container, packing and door to door transit AND 8 weeks free storage in UK = £5680
20ft container, packing and door to door transit AND 8 weeks free storage in UK = £4000

Right now we're leaning towards Whites because of the free storage - all of them have been equally professional, although we think Robinsons underestimated how much stuff we have!

Emily

Beaverquest

how's life treating you in NS

how is measuring up compared to life in Abz

Cookie

Everyone is doing great. 4 weeks in and both kids in school, we've bought a house and SUV. Move into the house in 3 weeks so I am busy picking some new furniture as our house over twice the size of the our last one. Shipment has arrived and is in storage.

Getting to grips with the cold weather. Looks great, lovely and sunny but its freezing (-12 to -27C), no snow though. Could be worse - Aberdeen is usually dull and grey with -2C biting our bones.

People have gone out of the their way to introduce themselves. We knew no-one when we moved here and in the last two weeks we have been at a party, invited twice to outdoor skating (boys getting on really well), attended 2 fundraisers - one was a Casino night (what a laugh) and the other was pancake breakfast this morning. The people here in New Glasgow have been great. People seem to look more happy and content over here.

I miss my friends from back home but thanks to email we are all in touch regularly. I expect to miss them more as time passes as we have known each other for many many years. Hopefully they will all manage to visit us this year

suecakes

We've also used Whites and are waiting for our shipment to arrive in Vancouver, do you have to do a separate list of goods and their approx value in Can$ or can you just use the list from Whites without a value?

Sue

Cookie

Hi Sue

Hadn't thought of that one. I will phone the shipping company in Halifax and get back to you on that one.

Cookie

Hi Sue

Contacted our shippers here in NS regarding paperwork. Here is what they stated:

"As long as your goods are used personal effects, you shouldn’t need a valued list. The only time they want to see values is if there is to be duty paid (new items, alcohol, for example). Bring with you your inventory list, your passport, the B4E form you should have filled out upon arrival into Canada , and any immigration paperwork you may have".

We did not fill in any B4E as we were not asked for a 'goods to follow' list at Toronto airport. I emailed them back and they said:

"They usually stamp it at the airport but if you fill one out before you go to customs, that should speed up the process. We’ll just explain that you were not given one at the airport. It happens".

Here is a link to a thread (go to #6) containing a pdf of required forms:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...&highlight=B4E

I think I will fill out a form based on our shipping inventory. Don't want to be held up on the day.

suecakes

Thanks for the info, much appreciated.

Sue